Enduring Icon: Audi's Allan McNish

A two times 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and triple champion in
the stateside series, Audi's Allan McNish is one of the most
successful drivers in endurance racing's recent history. Here, the
great Scot brings us up to speed on debris, downforce, getting into
the twilight zone and why the event is so much more than a day in a
life.

As
a racing driver, flying Scotsman Allan McNish, 42, has seen and
done it all, and still wears a fireproof T-shirt to prove it. From
karting and F3000, through to Formula One and touring cars, McNish
has always been one of the most competitive drivers, but it is as
an endurance racer with Audi that he has enjoyed the most success.
Having won the American Le Mans Series three times and the 24 Hours of Le Mans race twice, we could think
of no one better to give us the inside track on competing in the
most famous motor race in the world...

You don't get to relax before the race. "On the day before, I am
up at 6am, and at the track by 7.30am. From then, every minute is
taken up with technical discussions, meeting sponsors, plus the
mandatory historic Le Mans parade. At 2pm, everyone has to line up
for pictures, and then you pretend you're doing the running start
as it was in the Fifties. I just about have time for lunch. My son
said last night: 'But Dad, it's only 24 hours.' Yeah, it is only 24
hours, but you've been there a week. When you get into the race
itself, it's the adrenaline that's keeping you going."

The first laps are actually the easiest. "After the build-up,
it's a relief to finally get on with the race. They set you off
exactly on the hour, so the pace car regulates your speed on the
warm-up laps and then once the race starts it is a question of
making your braking point into the first corner, then you're OK.
The cars with you at the start are fast ones with the most
experienced drivers. "The most dangerous part of the race is early
evening and especially early morning. It's the twilight zone.
Either you're going into darkness and the sun is dropping down, or
you're coming out of the darkness and the sun is coming up. At the
same time, you've got new drivers coming in and feeling their way
around the circuit. Plus you've got cars that aren't quite as good
as they were at the start. The morning is the worst. There is
debris flying about on the circuit, people are tired. They don't
make the correct judgements that they did before."

Racing at night is actually easier than during the day. "It's
cooler at night, so you're more comfortable. With the lower track
temperature, we can run on softer tyres and the engine can breathe
better so it runs more efficiently. But best of all, because you
can't see much there are less distractions. To be a racing driver
it's essential you have very good eyesight, and that's especially
relevant at night. Your senses are heightened, you're travelling
over 200mph, you need to focus on that 110-metre braking point and
you have to have absolute faith and commitment in your
driving."

Rain is the worst part of a 24-hour race. "Yes, driving in the
heat is tough and the tyres don't work as well but, because of the
high speeds and the circuit, rain is the real worry. The tyres have
got a lot of downforce in grip, but they've got a big flat floor on
them. So if the water gets underneath them, it can aquaplane
easily. When it's wet, you're much more tense on the steering
wheel, you have to dance with the throttle and the brakes more.
Each lap is a different scenario, so you're really on the edge of
your nerves. One mistake could cost you the entire race."

Racing at Le Mans is different every year. "There are two things
that are changing: one is the cars as the engines change, tyres are
improved and technology moves forward. The other thing is, the
circuit changes. You have to realise it's a living creature. For
example, there's a line of trees near one corner and as they have
grown the roots have started pushing into the Tarmac. So there is a
huge bump that wasn't there before. It's a small example but it
changes the approach you have to take."

You get to rest between driving shifts... but I wouldn't call it
sleep. "I try to get away from the pits as quickly as I can. I
speak to my engineer when I get out of the car, usually there's
some press to do, then I will go off and have a shower and get my
dry, clean overalls and clothing on. I'll have a massage, stretch
and something to eat. I don't sleep, but I try to close my eyes for
a while. But I've got a headset on, which is tuned in to the radio
in the car. When they shout for me, I'm awake straight away. We've
got to be in the pits one hour before the change-over and you have
to be prepared… not groggy."

Le Mans was the first place a winner sprayed champagne [Dan
Gurney in 1967], so if you get the chance you have to do it right.
"You've got to shake it quite a lot beforehand, then you twist the
cork a little, and then shake a little more, then you twist it
again. When it goes you put your thumb over the top and shake
vigorously. Practice makes perfect. If you don't get it right, then
win another race!"

Originally published in the June 2012 issue of British GQ in
the GQ Le Mans supplement in association with Audi.

Paul Henderson

Paul Henderson is GQ's Health & Sports Editor. He joined the magazine in March 2003 and has written for a host of titles including the Guardian, the Spectator and the Daily Telegraph. As well as writing about sports, he covers food, drink, travel and motoring. This makes him very fortunate and decidedly unpopular.